Planning her own family

One of my own. I may have watched Matilda recently lol. I've mucked around a little with the way things were in season 1, hope people don't mind!

Mary Margaret Blanchard had never felt more like crying. As a teacher, she loved all her students for their individuality, but when a new girl rolled into town halfway through the year, the first grade teacher couldn't deny that she had stolen her heart. Little Emma Swan, the little foster child who was so young, and yet, came with a bag of burdens most children wouldn't have until near adulthood. Snow had instantly formed a connection with the little girl, and knew the feeling was mutual. Every time Mary Margaret ran any kind of extra-curricular activity, Emma was always the first to sign up. Book club, the hospital visits (she seemed particularly fascinated by one of the John Does), whatever. Emma just couldn't get enough of her teacher. Her foster parents were decent enough. They fed her, kept her clean and helped her with her homework, but Emma knew what was going on. She might only be six, but she knew the motions a couple went through when they wanted a baby.

Unfortunately for both Emma and Mary Margaret, the mayor of Storybrooke, Regina, had taken an intense disliking to her latest little citizen. Particularly, her "special" relationship with her teacher. As soon as Regina found out the girl's name was Emma, there was no doubt in her mind this was the Emma. She could see it in her face. She had her father's stupidly innocent looking eyes and her mother's round chin. Yes, this was the little princess. Well, Regina decided to see to it that she left Storybrooke and never came back. Her curse would not be broken. Yes, the Oliver's (the couple Emma was staying with) were nice enough people, but easily bought over. A cheque for a thousand dollars and a good word at the nearest adoption agency saw them happily begin the process to have Emma sent away again. Again, Emma wasn't stupid. She knew what that process looked like. The inability for either of them to so much as look at her. The secret whispers when they thought she was in another room. The almighty amount of paper sitting out of Emma's reach. Yes, they wanted to send her away again. Well, Emma decided that she wasn't going anywhere. Mary Margaret Blanchard wasn't the only resident of Storybrooke Emma had managed to win over. Emma had also formed quite a relationship with Lacey, the resident librarian. The young girl clearly had other dreams, and Emma picked up a weird smell off her if she came in early enough in the morning, something she only ever smelt off any foster parents who got drunk. But Lacey never seemed drunk around Emma. No, she was nice. Emma had loved books since she could read. Heck, even when all she could do was look at the pictures. It gave her a means of escape. Lacey had very kindly shown Emma the best books for children her age the library had. Now, she helped Emma out with something far more important. Not that Lacey knew it. Emma had told a slight lie to her librarian friend, stating that they were doing a topic in class on a courtroom. Emma wanted a copy of adoption papers for a project. Lacey happily helped her little friend, having no way of knowing Emma wasn't just wanting them as a prop. No, that night, Emma took those forms and filled out all the bits she could with her neatest handwriting. She hoped it looked grown up enough. Then, she went into school the next day extra early. She had noticed Miss Blanchard had been really sad since the beginning of the week. Emma suspected she knew about her leaving too. She was correct. Regina had been all too happy to gloat to the school teacher that, unfortunately, the Oliver's would be unable to house Emma any longer. But hopefully, it wouldn't be long until they got a brand new child. Then, it would be forever.

"Emma." Mary Margaret greeted the little girl, trying her hardest to smile. "You're in early. Do Mr and Mrs Oliver know you're here."

"No, but I won't be living with them for much longer anyway." She responded. Mary Margaret bit her lip.

"Did they tell you that?" She asked the little girl. Emma shook her head.

"No, but I know. It's happened before." She explained. Mary Margaret bent down so she was at eye level with the little girl. This was breaking her heart just as much as it was Emma's. She had never felt such a connection to one of the children in her class before. She never wanted to let Emma go. Emma set her back on Mary Margaret's desk. "But it's never happening again." She explained. She opened up the bag and began to rummage around until she pulled out a set of papers. "Because you're going to adopt me." Emma said confidently as she handed the papers to Mary Margaret. The teacher suddenly felt her legs turn to jelly.

"Where did you even get these?" She asked quietly. Emma shrugged.

"I have friends." She responded cryptically. "It doesn't matter. Miss Blanchard, I know you really like me…and I really like you. You've been my favourite teacher ever, and I've had a lot already. Heck, you're my favourite adult ever." Emma looked up at the teacher with her big green eyes. What if she had read her teacher wrongly? What if Miss Blanchard didn't care if she left? "Please, will you adopt me?" Mary Margaret clutched the papers tightly. This was an awful big decision to make, a child's life. Mary Margaret wasn't normally the sort to be rash, but she also knew she didn't have a lot of time to decide. She took a steadying breath before reaching out and cupping Emma's face.

"I don't know how this is going to go, Emma. I won't lie to you, you deserve better than that." Mary Margaret began. "But you are right, I do care about you, and I don't want you spending your life moving around from pillar to post. So yes, I will finish these forms. I will apply to adopt you." Emma squealed in delight, wrapping her arms around her teacher's neck. Well, hopefully not just her teacher for much longer. Hopefully, Mary Margaret Blanchard would become Emma's forever mommy.